In its most simple sense, baguazhang likes to take things and play with them. The art is based on the attitude of play. You can play with forms, you can play with opponents and training partners, and you need to … Continue reading →

All martial arts are abstract from the real thing. There is no perfect imitation of what is chaos – a violent encounter. At best we try to imitate, to take aspects of the whole and train these. Many martial arts … Continue reading →

Martial arts training is by its very definition an abstract of what real violence, a real fight condition is like. What we are attempting to do in training is attempt to take the chaotic whole of combat and dissect it … Continue reading →

Here’s a link to a news program done on Luo Dexiu and his students, as well as the Yizong association in Taiwan. The Yizong association is a group of students from the early lineage of Zhang Zhunfeng, primarily through the … Continue reading →

Here’s a video of a Yizong uncle of mine named Su Dongchen. He was a student under Hong Yixiang, along with my teacher, Luo Dexiu. Although I know that many of you have already seen this video, I thought I … Continue reading →

Josh Coutts forwarded this to me. He was reading an article on cardio machines and exercise. “She also notes that exercising in a hunched-over position can keep you from breathing deeply, and that the improper alignment of your spine can … Continue reading →

Just thought I would throw this out there hoping for some comments. I’ve been thinking about this a lot the last few years – how to explain Baguazhang to those with no background knowledge in martial arts. I remember Nima … Continue reading →

Being Present. One must be able to fully concentrate, fully focus, be fully aware and have the ability to be fully in the moment. This is both a both a trained skill, and a prerequisite to long term success in … Continue reading →

Here’s a video from a school nephew of mine, Hanan. He has trained extensively with a senior of mine under Luo Dexiu Laoshi, Zeev Foux, in Israel. Hanan also spent time training in Tianjin, China under Han Fengrui. It was … Continue reading →

Be Present. One must come to class. Its often that simple. There are always distractions; whether its work, traffic, significant others, sleep, TV, video games or whatnot, there is always something beckoning one away from what one wants to do … Continue reading →

My years of teaching students the arts of Baguazhang and Xingyiquan, as well as the years I spent observing and assisting my teacher Luo Dexiu in teaching these arts, have given me a certain perspective about their training process. Although … Continue reading →

As Ive started to try to write some of my thoughts down on this topic, I realize that although I have a good intuitive understanding of what Im trying to get at in my own training, I am having a … Continue reading →